Time runs out on £1m lottery ticket bought in Huntingdonshire

A national lottery ticket bought in Huntingdonshire has now expired. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images)

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A mystery ticket holder has missed out on a £1million prize after their winning lottery ticket bought in Huntingdonshire remained unclaimed for 180 days.

The deadline might be an unlucky break for the would-be millionaire, but the prize and any interest earned will now be divvied up between different projects funded by The National Lottery.

Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at The National Lottery, said that the lottery was set up to offer people a life-changing amount of money but, “most importantly to benefit society.”

Mr Carter said: “Unfortunately, I can confirm that the ticket-holder did not come forward within the deadline to claim their prize and has now sadly missed out on this substantial amount of money. To avoid this unfortunate situation happening again, I would urge all National Lottery players to check their tickets on a regular basis.

“We tried very hard to find the ticket-holder and it’s a real shame that they have missed out, but there is still one winner – the nation. This money, and all the interest earned over the 180 days, will now go to benefit projects all over the UK funded by The National Lottery.”

The winning ticket won the December 16, 2016 EuroMillions draw and expired at midnight Wednesday (June 14), according to Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, The National Lottery operator.

Mr Carter said the lottery did everything possible to get out the word to find the elusive ticket holder.

St Neots Rangers, Sustrans Leisure Cycling Group, even joined the hunt by spreading the word during their guided cycle rides in the Huntingdonshire area. (Image: Sustrans)

St Neots Rangers and Sustrans Leisure Cycling Group even joined the hunt by spreading the word during their guided cycle rides in the Huntingdonshire area.

Volunteer Richard Cooper said Huntingdonshire cyclists have hugely benefited from the lottery in the past thanks to its funding of the Willow Bridge.

Lottery players raise an average of more than £30 million for National Lottery-funded projects each week. Since 1994, £37 billion has been raised by National Lottery players.

In Huntingdonshire, money has been given to the Life After Debt/Life Amidst Debt charity, the Huntingdon Gymnastics Club and other projects.

Mr Carter said another prize initially went unclaimed in Huntingdonshire on March 14, but the ticket holder claimed the prize several weeks later after the lottery issued a statement about the unclaimed ticket.

In other lottery news across the UK, a pensioner who recently won £1million on a scratchcard, thought he had won a pint of milk.

"When I saw the amount it didn't really click at first. On the card, it reads 1MIL and I thought what does this mean - I've won a pint of milk?

"I went back into the shop and asked them to check it. They confirmed that I had won and that I'd have to call the lottery line.

"I couldn't believe it but I actually remained quite calm.”

Bill Bett, 69, who recently won £1million on a scratchcard, initially thought he had won a pint of milk. (Image: Nick Mailer/National LotterySWNS)

Mr Bett, a retired arts teacher to students with learning disabilities, said he spent some of his earnings on a new bungalow so he does not have to navigate the stairs in his former house. He also said he would enjoy a ferry trip to Brussels or France and take care of his three sisters.